Barry McWilliams' Mission to Uganda

A Short Term Trip to Uganda - March 3rd - 22nd, 2003

The Mission:

I will be doing Eighteen Days of Teaching and Preaching Ministry in a couple of Pastor's conferences, plus some evangelism and church planting in Uganda as part of a team led by Pastor John Pickett of Las Cruces, New Mexico. We will be going into Uganda with the assistance of Africa Christian Training Institute (ACTI). The trip was originally planned for January, but for a number of reasons has been postponed till March, probably March 3rd - 21st. Though the dates are changing, I am still fully committed and preparing to go. And even thankful for added time to increase my support and be better prepared.

There will ministry in Kampala, in Kinkizi Province (SW Uganda S of Lake Edward), at Hoima (NW Uganda near Lake Albert) and at the Uganda Christian University at Mukono (Between Kampala and Jinja). The arrangements and itinerary were arranged with the Ugandan Field Director, Rashid Luzwa.

This will be my second trip to Uganda. My first trip included teaching, preaching and door-to-door evangelism at New Life Presbyterian Church in Kajjansi, near Kampala, on March 10th - 17th, 2001, as part of a team led by Dr. Henry Krabbendam. My ministry was well received by those I ministered to - and many have encouraged me to return - teaching is much needed by the Ugandan churches. Pastor Mayanja Francis, for example, has a congregation of around 200 and he hasn't even completed his theological education.

My Needs:

Building a support base for my Uganda short-term ministry trip is one of the most important parts of the entire process for two reasons. Not only am I seeking funds to enable me to go to Uganda for the purpose of ministry, but I am also gathering warriors to stand alongside me in prayer as I go. In fact, that prayer base is more important than the financial. The financial base can only gets me there and back -- the prayer base empowers the entire trip.

My Trip Costs are $3,500 and will be used in the following way:

$1,300 to $1,500 air fare to Uganda and back

$300 to $500 for accommodations, food, and travel in Uganda

$1,500 to $2,000 used for ministry in Uganda

Slightly over one-half of this amount is used for transportation, room, and board in Uganda and the remainder used in direct ministry to the people of Uganda. As of December 25th - I have received about $1,820 which about covers my basic costs - so additional support will be going to meet the needs of the ministry itself!

It is the nature of ministry in Uganda, that we must provide for the needs of those we minister to. Most of us are accustomed to having guests come and minister in our home churches. In such cases, the host church provides travel expenses, lodging and meals, and typically gives an honorarium. The Ugandan churches are very poor (average annual family income is less that $400) and as such, could never cover such costs. Therefore, we cover our own expenses and raise additional funds to provide the scholarships, travel funds, food and lodging for Ugandans to participate in the events we conduct. In addition, the logistics of getting us to where we will minister and providing for our basic needs and health is made possible by the time and energies of a number of Ugandans who also need to be supported. 100% of what I receive will go for my trip and any excess funds received will go to help anyone on the team who has fallen short of their goal and when all team members are fully funded, excess funds are used to purchase Bibles and other Christian books, and medical supplies, or used to help orphans in Uganda. And unlike full time missionaries who require regular support - all I am seeking are one time gifts to Uganda. We will take approximately 100 pounds each of Bible study materials, clothes, medicine, and other benevolent help.(See below for more on ACTI's financial policies; and for benevolent gifts suggestions.)

Prayer Time Line:

Building my Support Base

Committed Prayer Supporters

Financial Support

Preparations

Spiritual - Faith and dependance on the Lord

Physical - Health concerns, immunizations and general fitness

Teaching Preparations - The nature of ministry in Uganda makes it hard to prepare for - or know what materials to take along. Often the ministry demands a fair amount of "on-the-spot" teaching, with very little time for preparations.

Gathering benevolent gifts - these do much to open doors and hearts. (a list follows below)

Packing & Departure - Travel Concerns

I will be flying from Seattle to Chicago to London, changing airports there, and then flying to Entebbe in Uganda. Depending on layovers, it is aound twenty-plus hours of travel one way. Pray that all the baggage will make it through as well. Arriving in Uganda, I will need to adjust to an eleven hour jet lag.

It was so good to work and serve with you the King of kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. All the time I was with you in Kajjansi, I learnt so many things. Please thank you for coming and ministering to us and our people, come again. I'm praying for you that the Lord may enable you to come back, this time for a longer period, the Lord willing. Patrick Bukenya (elder, New Life Presbyterian Church).

Pastor Barry, I wish to offer my thoughtful gratitude to you our dear and beloved brother for all your endeavors for the whole of last week you did spend with us here in Uganda and especially at Kajjansi. I was so much encouraged by the way you were expounding the word. We love you and you are still on our hearts and it's hardly for us to forget all those days you spent laboring in our midst. Your name and labors, brother Barry, are written and heavily stamped on our hearts. Much you had given us and none did we give in return but all in all the sovereign God has our reward in abundance and for each of us. We are praying that, if God wills, to have you again. Pastor Mayanja Francis (Pastor, New Life Presbyterian Church).

I want to thank for God who gave you courage to come to Uganda to preach. I was touched by the stories. I got to know that one has to take a step forward to grow spiritually in this journey we are moving. May the good Lord bless. Allow me to extend my gratefulness thanks to you once again for my Bible its very important to me. Pray for me to be a doer of what it tells me to.Esther Nkugwa (student)

Benevolent Gifts

Many of the necessities of life are readily available in Uganda however the lack of funds makes these items difficult to obtain. Generally heavy and bulky items are not good candidates for benevolent gifts -- but funds can be carried to Uganda and such items purchased there. This saves valuable space in luggage for smaller items that will benefit more Ugandans. I can take about 75 pounds of gifts.

The following list contains suggestions giving some idea of what gift items I can take along.

Good and Solid (Reformed) Theological Books though these are heavy, they are much needed by the leadership of the Ugandan Churches.

ACTI has worked in East Africa through an extensive ministry of preaching, teaching, evangelism, elder and deacon training, counseling, and medical service and training. It continues to have a significant impact in Uganda among Ugandan Episcopalians and Pentecostals as well as the Presbyterian Church there by facilitating teaching and ruling elders, students and lay people doing short term - but intensive - ministry trips. One hundred sixty-two went to Uganda in ten teams in 2001. Six new churches were planted in 2001, more have been planted this year. Ten primarily pastor/pastor's wife conferences were conducted, together with seven general believers conferences in various denominational churches. Nine conferences were conducted for the benefit of women, youth and children. ACTI's main objective is to straighten and extend the national church in both urban and rural areas of Uganda in whatever venues open to them by the invitation of the Ugandan churches and missionaries.

Over the years, ACTI has found this type ministry to be effective and by God's grace has helped change the character of the church in Uganda. It is an enabling ministry that assists the church in its areas of need, but at the same time leaves the Christians of Uganda in control of their own ministry and outreach. The need is so great and the people are so responsive to the gospel. It is not uncommon for a Ugandan pastor to educated and fluent in English, yet lacking in formal theological training and with few resources. ACTI has helped struggling pastors and churches with conferences and seminars designed to train in ministry skills that we take for granted in our churches here at home. A team member may spend six to eight hours per day teaching pastors, elders and deacons, do personal work at night and then preach in areas churches on the Lord's Day. It is not without its dangers either - besides the ever present health concerns, rebel activities prevent work in some areas, and Pastor Pete Anderson's team was robbed twice last summer. There is much need for prayer for those who go to minister.

ACTI's pledge is to use funds to their maximum for God's glory. The salaries of the Ugandan ACTI coordination team is paid from designated funds and a small portion of ministry teams funds. The more a ministry team uses its staff in Uganda, the more it costs. However, their policy is never to access any team member more than $100 for this purpose. Therefore, the maximum they would charge any team members $3,500 is 2.9%. African Christian Training Institute was founded by a group of Presbyterian Church in America men in 1981, and continues to be overseen by a Board of primarily P.C.A. people. Those who oversee ACTI's efforts in the United States are all otherwise engaged in full-time employment (pastors, doctors, dentists, accountants, etc.,) and their work with ACTI is on a volunteer basis. They even pay their own expenses to ACTI meetings. ACTI is totally committed to both the work of ministry in Uganda and financial integrity for every dollar God entrusts to them.